Method and apparatus for conveying yarn



Aug. 20, 1968 w, A, MCNEILL ET AL 3,397,437

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING YARN Filed Nov. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: W\LLIAM A. MQNElLLaml JosEPH A. bAvAN'g-Te.

ATTORNEY 3 Aug. 20, 1968 w McNE|| ET AL 3,397,437

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING YARN Filed Nov. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS'. W\LL.\AM A. MENEILLand JbsEPH A.bA\/ANT,J2.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,437 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING YARN William A. McNeil], Gastonia, and Joseph A. Davant, Jr.,

Charlotte, N.C., assignors to McNeil] Spinning Company, Inc., Gastonia, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Nov. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 592,791 11 Claims. (CI. 2821) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus for collecting yarn in package form which permits free shrinkage of the yarn during subsequent treatment, wherein the yarn is conveyed from a yarn source in a stream of fluid, the stream being directed downwardly in a substantially helical path to impart a helical movement to the yarn, the stream being substantially dissipated while permitting the yarn to pass downwardly under the influence of gravity, and the downwardly moving yarn being collected in a series of layers of random loops to form a yarn package.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transporting and collecting yarn, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for collecting yarn in a package form which permits free shrinkage of the yarn during subsequent treatment of the package.

In processing textile yarns, certain treatments which expose the yarns to contact with a liquid or to elevated temperatures, i.e., dyeing, finishing, heat-setting, often cause shrinkage of the yarn. The shrinkage characteristics of yarn, although generally undesirable in yarn processing, can be effectively utilized to perform certain texturizing operations on the yarn. For example, copending application, Ser. No. 494,427, filed Oct. 11, 1965, now abandoned, commonly assigned with the present application, discloses a method of producing high bulk yarn by blending staple fibers having diiferent residual shrinkage capacities to form a yarn strand, and then subjecting the strand to a steam treatment to cause the high shrinking fibers to longitudinally contract and the lower shrinking fibers to buckle and loop so as to create air spaces between the fibers and thus increase the size of the yarn so that it possesses greater loft and bulk than a similar yarn which has not been subjected to a shrinking treatment.

In order to achieve maximum benefit from such a bulktexturizing operation as well as to protect the yarn during other textile operations where shrinking occurs, it is desirable that the yarn be treated while in a condition in which it is free to shrink, thus avoiding excessive stress and possible structural damage to the yarn.

To permit free shrinkage, the yarn is most conveniently collected into a package or bundle of loosely wound loops or coils of yarn which package is then subjected to a shinking operation. After the yarn has freely shrunk, it can be withdrawn from the package in strand form and collected onto bobbins for subsequent processing.

When textile yarns are handled in strand form, it is a well-known expedient to subject the yarn strand to a high velocity stream of fluid, usually air, and to move the strand from one processing point to another by and in the path of the air stream. The use of air to transport yarn is highly advantageous since it eliminates, to a great extent, yarn wear, breakage, and the buildup of static electricity which occurs when a strand travels over or through the more conventional guides and rollers.

When an air stream is used as the yarn transporting means in forming the aforementioned loose package of yarn for a shrinking treatment, difliculties are experienced in formation of the package. Because of the high velocity of the air, there is a tendency for the air delivering the yarn to impinge upon the yarn already in the package and tangle the yarn strands in the preceding layers, thus making it difficult, if not impossible, to recover the yarn from the package in strand form for winding onto bobbins.

In attempts to alleviate the problem of tangling of such packages when fluid conveying means are used to transport the yarn, devices have been designed which pneumatically convey the yarn to the point of package formation and expel it from a rotating nozzle which is directed angularly away from the package and describes a circle above the package to indirectly lay the yarn into the package in a series of overlying coils. Although such devices prevent high pressure air from directly impinging against the yarn in the package, the devices are costly to manufacture, take up a large amount of space on a production line, and require additional equipment in order to provide for rotation of the nozzles during operation. Thus, the use of air to form loosely collected yarn packages has heretofore greatly increased the cost of such yarn production.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for transporting yarn by use of high pressure fluid which may be used effectively to collect the yarn in a loose package form for free shrinkage without tangling yarn previously collected in the package whereby the yarn may be easily recovered from the package in strand form for subsequent processing.

It is a more specific object to provide a pneumatic yarn conveying apparatus for transporting and depositing yarn to form a package of overlying layers of random loops of the yarn whereby the package may be formed without disturbance of the previous layers of yarn by the pneumatic conveying medium.

It is another object to provide a pneumatic yarn transporting apparatus which is of simple construction and requires a minimum of space and maintenance during operation.

It is another object to provide a compact, yarn processing machine for packaging loose packages of yarn composed of a plurality of closely-spaced package-forming stations, utilizing pneumatic conveying means to deliver yarn to and assist in forming the yarn packages.

It is another object to provide an improved process for transporting and collecting yarn, by use of a fluid stream, to form a yarn package composed of layers of yarn of random loop-like configuration without disturbing the yarn previously collected in the package.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a portion of a yarn processing machine composed of a bank of yarn processing stations, each of the stations comprising a yarn collection can, a wound yarn package supported above the can for supplying yarn thereto, and a yarn conveying apparatus of the present invention positioned below the package and adjacent the open top of the can;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged. fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of the right-handmost processing station seen in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of arrow 2, and including a portion of the yarn collection can and a partially exploded view of the yarn conveying apparatus associated with the can;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the yarn inlet portion of the yarn conveying apparatus, taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, partial sectional view of the apparatus taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG- URE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a yarn support bracket which is removably located within each of the yarn collection cans seen in FIGURE 1, showing a postshrunken package of yarn supported thereon and indicating, in broken lines, the size of the yarn package prior to shrinking.

The objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a yarn conveying apparatus comprising an elongate conduit for passage of a yarn strand, which conduit has a first yarn feeding portion provided with means for introducing fluid under pressure to withdraw yarn from a yarn source and transport it through the conduit, and a second, downwardly extending yarn guiding and laying portion of substantially greater cross-sectional dimension than the first portion, and wherein adjustable baffle means are provided in the second portion to direct the conveying fluid and the yarn in a substantially helical path and deposit the yarn, with the aid of gravity, in a random loop-like configuration into a yarn package, which package remains undisturbed by the conveying fluid during its fonmation.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a textile yarn processing machine 11 comprising a row of yarn processing stations. Each station includes a yarn collection can 12, an associated yarn-filled supply bobbin 13, and yarn conveying apparatus 14. Each can 11 is mounted on a circular base plate 15 and each base plate is supported in suitable manner on a frame support member 16 for rotation about a vertical axis and connected by a pulley and drive belt arrangement 17 to a common drive shaft 18. The drive shaft is rotatably driven by suitable means, not shown, to simultaneously rotate all of the collection cans of the row during operation of the machine.

The yarn-filled supply bobbins 13 are spaced above the cans and supported on a horizontal frame member 19 of the machine. As seen, each bobbin serves as a source of supplying yarn, in strand form, to the collection can located immediately therebelow, and the yarn is transported therebetween by the conveying apparatus 14 located above the collection cans. The details of the conveying apparatus and its manner of operation will be explained presently.

Since all the yarn processing stations on the machine are substantially identical and operate in a similar manner, only the component parts of the right-handmost station seen in FIGURE 1 will be shown and described in detail, and such description thereof is intended to apply to the construction and operation of all stations of the machine.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, each collection can 12 is perforated, as at 12a, to facilitate steam or other fluid treatment of yarn collected therein. An upstanding cylinder or sleeve 21 is centrally supported in the can on a bracket 22 (FIGURES 2 and 7) and cooperates with the can to form an annular collection compartment C for the yarn. The bracket 22, which may be formed of suitably bent wire, has a circular base portion 22a which rests freely on the bottom of the can and supports an upstanding shaft portion 22b from which the sleeve 21 may be slidably withdrawn prior to treatment of the yarn in order to facilitate passage of steam or other fluid throughout the yarn package and unrestricted shrinkage of the yarn. The bracket 22 also may be withdrawn from the can to remove the collected yarn package to facilitate winding the yarn onto spools or bobbins after treatment thereof.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, each yarn transporting apparatus 14 is connected to and served by a common inanifold or conduit 31 which has suitable means, such as an air compressor (not shown), communicating therewith to supply air under pressure to the interior of the manifold and to each of the transporting apparatus 14.

Each apparatus 14 of the present invention is generally in the shape of an elongate yarn-conveying conduit which defines a substantially confined path for the passage of yarn, in strand form, from the yarn supply source to the collection can 12. Extending downwardly through an opening in the upper wall 32 of the manifold 31 and suitably supported therein, is a short rigid tube 33 which is open at both ends (FIGURES 2 and 3). The open upper end of the tube 33 defines a yarn inlet and is located outside the manifold and is adapted to receive a yarn strand S from the wound bobbin 13 of yarn above the tube. The tube 33 extends downwardly through the manifold and terminates a short distance inside a second rigid tube 34 which has an open upper end threadably secured within the bottom wall 36 of the manifold (FIGURE 3). The clearance between the inner wall of the second tube 34 and the outer wall of the smaller tube 33 defines an annular opening which is of sufficient size to permit passage of pressurized air from the manifold downwardly between the walls and into tube 34, thus creating a venturi effect of suflicient force to draw the yarn strand S from the yarnfilled bobbin 13 and transport it through the tubes 33 and 34.

Attached to the lower end 34a of the downwardlyextending tube 34 is a section of flexible plastic tubing 35 which is of sufficient internal diameter to pass the yarn strand S under influence of the pressurized air flow from the manifold 31. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the tubes 33, 34 and 35 cooperate to form a yarn feeding portion of the conveying apparatus, which portion has a relatively small cross-sectional area and which operates to withdraw the yarn strand from its bobbin supply source and transport it under influence of relatively high pressure air to a point adjacent the open top of the yarn collection can.

Positioned in spaced alignment above the annular collection compartment C in the yarn collection can 12 (FIGURE 2) and forming a second yarn guiding and laying-portion of the conveying apparatus is 'a downwardlyextending cylinder 41, the interior transverse cross-sectional dimension of which is substantially greater than that of the yarn feeding portion of the conveying apparatus. The end 42 (FIGURES 4-6) of the flexible tube 35 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 41 through an opening 43 in an upper portion of the cylinder wall and the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 35, as it enters the cylinder, is preferably perpendicular and coplanar to the longitudinal axis of the downwardlyextending cylinder (FIGURES 2 and 4).

The upper end of the cylinder is closed by means of a removable cap member 44 and the open lower end 45 thereof defines a yarn outlet and is disposed a distance above the collection can 12 and in alignment with a portion of the annular compartment C there-in (FIG- URE 2). The guiding and laying cylinder 41 and the flexible feed tube 35 are suitably supported above the collection can by means of an L-shaped bracket 51 which is attached to a horizontal bar 52 of the yarn processing machine by an outwardly extending arm 53.

The internal transverse cross-sectional dimension of the yarn guiding and laying cylinder 41 is substantially greater than the internal cross-sectional dimension of the yarn feed tubes 33, 34, and 35 and serves the dual purpose of guiding the yarn downwardly as it passes from the flexible tube 35 under influence of high velocity air and of substantially reducing the velocity of the air prior to its exit from the lower end 45 of the cylinder so as to prevent the air stream from tangling the yarn previously laid in the collection can.

To establish a random, loop-like pattern in the yarn as it is laid in the collection can, the transporting 'apparatus is provided with adjustable baflle means located in the cylinder 41 adjacent the end of the flexible tube 35 (FIGURES 4-6). The batfle means consists of an elongate flat plate 61 which extends generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of cylinder 41. One end of the plate is in the shape of a clamp 62 which is secured to the end of the flexible tube 35 by means of a bolt 62a and the plate may be positioned about the longitudinal axis of the tube by loosening the bolt and rotating the plate a desired amount.

The plate is transversely bent along a line 63 intermediate its length to locate a major portion 61a thereof at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 35.

As seen, portion 61a lies in the path of the air stream passing from the tube and serves to deflect the same, along with the yarn transported therein, downwardly in the rigid cylinder 41. Although the angle of the bend 63 in the plate may be varied, particularly effective results are obtained when the angle of the major portion of the plate 61a is maintained approximately 30 to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

To more precisely control the direction and configuration of the air stream and the path of the yarn as it travels downwardly in the cylinder, the plate 61 may be rotatably positioned about the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 35. As seen in FIGURES 4 and 6, the opening 43 in the wall of the cylinder permits free movement of the plate about the longitudinal axis of the flexible Itube so that the angular position of the flat, air-impinging surface 61a of the plate may be varied with respect to the longitudinal axis of the downwardly-extending cylinder 41.

As best seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, by rotatably positioning the plate at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, a helical flow is created in the air stream passing downwardly in the guiding and laying cylinder 41 and the yarn strand S can be made to describe a substantially helical path in its passage through the cylinder. By rotatably varying the position of the plate 61, an optimum path configuration for the yarn, depending on its size and Weight, can be established so that the yarn may be influenced to fall in overlying loops into the collection can.

As mentioned, the increased diameter of the cylinder 41 and its distance above the collection can quickly dissipates the flow of air exiting from the cylinder into an area immediately adjacent the lower end of the cylinder and thus permits the yarn to fall by gravity and to be collected in the can in a random loop-like configuration. By dissipating the low velocity air stream immediately adjacent the lower end of the guiding cylinder, the yarn may be collected without the air stream disturbing the yarn layers already present in the collection can.

After the package of yarn is formed, the central sleeve 21 may be withdrawn from the supporting bracket 22 and the can 12. containing the yarn placed in a suitable treating device, such as a steam cabinet, to subject the yarn to a shrinking and bulking operation. As seen in FIGURE 7, the yarn package is free to shrink and bulk on the support bracket 22 from an initial package configuration P (shown in broken lines) to a final shrunken configuration P.

After treatment, the yarn may be removed from the can on the bracket 22, and the bracket containing the yarn placed where the yarn may be readily withdrawn and wound on bobbins in strand form.

Although the yarn transporting device, as described herein, utilizes an air stream to convey the yarn, other fluids, such as steam or the like, may be utilized Without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. A method of conveying a strand of yarn from a yarn source and collecting the yarn in package form whereby the yarn is free to shrink during treatment thereof and is readily recoverable from said package in strand form for subsequent processing, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) conveying the yarn strand from said yarn source by and in a stream of fluid,

(b) abruptly directing the stream downwardly in a substantially helical path to impart a helical movement to yarn strand transported therein,

(c) substantially dissipating said fluid stream while continuing to pass the yarn downwardly under influence of gravity, and

(d) collecting said downwardly moving yarn strand in a series of layers of random loops of yarn to form said yarn package without disturbing yarn previously collected therein.

2. A method of conveying a strand of yarn from a yarn source and collecting the yarn strand whereby the yarn is free to shrink during treatment thereof and is readily recoverable in strand form for subsequent processing, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) conveying the yarn strand along a confined path of relatively small cross-sectional area by subjecting the yarn strand to fluid directed along said confined pat-h,

(b) abruptly directing said path downwardly While increasing the cross-sectional area thereof and imparting substantially helical motion to said fluid in said path,

(c) conveying the yarn strand downwardly in said path under influence of said helically moving fluid and gravity,

(d) substantially dissipating said fluid, and thereafter (e) collecting the downwardly moving yarn strand in overlying layers of random loops of yarn substantially undisturbed by said fluid.

3. An apparatus for forming a package of yarn wherein the yarn therein is free to shrink upon subsequent treatment of the package, said apparatus including means for rapidly withdrawing yarn, in strand form, from a supply source and depositing the same into a receptacle in a plurality of layers of yarn of random loop-like configuration, said means comprising:

(a) an elongate conduit having a first yarn feeding portion and a second, downwardly extending, yarn guiding portion, a yarn inlet in said first portion being located adjacent said supply source and a yarn outlet in the lower end of said second portion disposed above said receptacle,

(b) means for introducing fluid into said first portion of said conduit adjacent said inlet and at a sufficient velocity to draw yarn in strand form from said supply source into said inlet and propel it through said first portion, and (c) means located in said conduit adjacent the junction of said first and second portions thereof cooperating with said second portion to impart a substantially helical motion to said fluid and a yarn strand passing through said second portion such that the yarn strand is guided through said second portion under influence of said fluid and falls from said second portion, with the aid of gravity, in a loop-like configuration into said receptacle without disturbance of yarn previously collected therein. 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second portion of said elongate conduit extends substantially vertically downwardly and has a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional configuration of substantially larger dimension than the transverse cross-sectional configuration of said first portion, and wherein the longitudinal axes of said first and second portions of said conduit, at said junction thereof, are substantially perpendicular and co-planar, and said means cooperating with said second portion to impart a helical motion to said fluid and yarn strand includes an adjustable'baffie plate positioned in said second portion of said conduit adjacent said junction and in the path of travel of said fluid.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the portion of said plate in said path of travel defines an angle of approximately 30 to said longitudinal axis of the first portion of the conduit.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said plate is rotatably positionable about said longitudinal axis of said first portion of the conduit to deflect said fluid path at varying angles about the longitudinal axis of said second portion of the conduit.

7. An apparatus for transporting yarn comprising means for rapidly withdrawing a yarn strand from a supply bobbin and depositing the same in a plurality of layers of random loop-like configuration into a receptacle, said yarn withdrawing and depositing means comprising:

(a) a yarn feed tube having an inlet located adjacent said supply bobbin,

(b) means of introducing air at a sufiicient velocity into said yarn feed tube to transport yarn from said supply bobbin into and through said tube,

(c) a downwardly extending yarn guiding and laying cylinder having a substantially larger diameter than said yarn feed tube, an outlet in said yarn feed tube communicating with an upper portion of said yarn guiding and laying cylinder at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, an open lower end of said yarn guiding and laying cylinder disposed in alignment with and spaced above said receptacle, and

(d) bafile means positioned in said cylinder adjacent said feed tube outlet to abruptly deflect air exiting from said feed tube about the longitudinal axis of said cylinder whereby said air describes a substantially helical flow path in said cylinder and thus imparts a loop-like configuration to yarn collecting in said receptacle.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the longitudinal axis of said yarn feed tube, at the point of communication with said yarn guiding and laying cylinder, is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, and wherein said baffle means includes an elongate plate one end of which is adjustably attached to said feed tube, said plate extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and having a sub stantial portion thereof lying in the path of air exiting from said feed tube outlet.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said yarn feed tube radially communicates with said yarn guiding and laying cylinder, said yarn guiding and laying cylinder has a longitudinal axis positioned substantially vertically, and said open lower end of said cylinder is spaced sufficiently above said receptacle so as to prevent air passing therefrom from disturbing yarn collecting in said receptacle.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said receptacle comprises an upright, open-topped cylindrical can rotatable about its central axis and having an annular yarn-receiving compartment therein, and said Open lower end of said cylinder is disposed over a portion of said annular compartment to discharge yarn thereinto during rotation of said can.

11. A yarn processing machine for transporting yarn, in strand form, from a plurality of yarn supply bobbins and for collecting the individual strands thereof in corresponding yarn pack-ages composed of overlying layers of random loops of yarn which are free to shrink upon appropriate treatment of the yarn packages, and wherein the yarn is readily recoverable from the yarn packages in strand form after said treatment; said machine comprising a plurality of open-topped collection cans mounted in closely spaced side-by-side relationship for rotation about substantially vertical axes, common drive means for transmitting rotation to each of the collection cans, means for supporting a yarn-filled supply bobbin above each of said collection cans, yarn conveying means located between each supply bobbin and the corresponding collection can, and common means for delivering air under pressure to each of said yarn conveying means; each of said yarn conveying means including an elongate conduit having a first yarn feeding portion of relatively small transverse cross-sectional dimension, a yarn strand inlet in said first portion and means adjacent said inlet permitting passage of the pressurized air into and through said elongate conduit to withdraw the yarn strand from the supply bobbin and propel the strand through said elongate conduit, and said elongate conduit having a second, downwardly-extending yarn guiding and laying portion of relatively large transverse cross-sectional dimension, said second portion having a yarn strand outlet located above and in alignment with a portion of the adjacent opentopped collection can, and means in said elongate conduit adjacent the junction of said first and second portions and cooperating with said second portion to impart substantially helical motion to the yarn strand passing through and out of said sec-ond portion whereby the yarn strand is delivered into the collection can in the aforesaid overlying layers of random loops.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,971,243 2/1961 Burns 28-21 3,135,038 6/1964 'Pfiugrad 28-21 3,270,977 9/1966 Tillou 28--21 X 3,289,440 12/1966 Buddecke 2821 X LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Primary Examiner. 

